Solid before soft point

[Vinootz]

My vote for dangerous game , first shot, and going through bone: solids like Swift AFrame or Woodleigh. Nosler partition is another tough bullet with easier expansion capabilities than the aforementioned. Swift Scirocco and Barnes TTSX will work good on non dangerous game. Longer ranges on cervids for expansion, Nosler Accubond and the like.
Shorter ranges cervids pick your poison; although good ole Remington Core Lokt usually mushroom reliably. Nathan Foster of New Zealand (Ballistic Studies) offers great insights on various ranges and bullet performance. There’s also Randy Selby (Real Gunsmith)that did a video on bullet construction- good insights! Both are very knowledgeable hunters that share invaluable
experience and depth on the internet .

 

[Bandera]

My choice was and still is the Barnes TSX.
375 Ruger
300 grains @ 2550 fps.
Dead Buff

 

[Vinootz]

Hunters from the USA tend to answer by suggesting the bullet choices available to them. To answer your question about RWS 9.3x74R ammunition, I expect the EVO bullet would be more appropriate than the UNI classic for hunting very large game like buffalo. I've only shot a few animals with each, but my limited experience the bonded core EVO bullet holds together and penetrates very well. I have not been able to examine one after killing an animal, they exit. The Uni Classic bullet will fragment after hitting bone and stop in animals the size of elk or moose.

I’m from the US and the first bullets I’ve ever reloaded-and still do - were and are Woodleigh(Australia). I now load others as well like Accubond and Partitions, Barnes TTSX and others. I intend to load Trophy bonded bear claw , Swift AFrame and Scirroco ,Sierra and others.
I like experimenting with different loads and bullets. But the Swift AFrame is an extraordinary projectile , no if ands or buts. Consistently one of the best mushrooming bullets you’ll ever see short range on tough animals and bone. Ironically, Remington Core Lokt are consistent mushrooming bullets at short ranges on cervids for non bone. All you got to do is look at the lifetime hunters experiences. Craig Boddington of Kansas, Randy Selby of Wyoming(Real Gunsmith),Nathan Foster of New Zealand(Ballistic Studies/Terminal Ballistics), Ron Spomer of Iowa(Ron Spomer Outdoors). Newer to the seasoned hunter world is John McAdams of Lufkins Texas(Big Game Hunting Blog). John over time will likely become as experienced and as insightful as all the aforementioned experts. He’s quite thorough and experienced already. There are others as well. You all likely know the names of your own country’s expert hunters past and present. They all author (and video) many bullet’s terminal ballistics from hunting experience (also videos/books). Read their work , watch their videos. You’ll get all the best first hand info you’ll ever need or be curious about for hunting and cartridge / projectile performance .

 

[Scott CWO]

With a .458 on buffalo, most PHs these days are saying to use an A-Frame or TSX and no solids needed. I don’t know if they recommend the same with a .416 or not?

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Barnes TSX. Repeat, repeat, repeat…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Barnes TSX .375H&H

 

[Vinootz]

Barnes TSX .375H&H

View attachment 752036
View attachment 752038View attachment 752040

Niiiice. You gotta be happy with that.

 

[Vinootz]

Here’s a few

 

[M70375!]

Just filler up with 400 grain TSX and don't look back

 

[Red Leg]

Magazine full of TSX or A Frame. For me, it is 300 gr .375.

 

[mark-hunter]

You think Solid can shoot a buffalo when he hits it in the shoulder?

yes. pure penetration

 

[PeteG]

Daga boy is approaching me at high speed.
I raise the carbine and shoot.
One bullet after another.
This is a situation I have thought about many times. I wonder if it is better that in say 416 rigby the first bullet is solid and the second soft? In which order do you who have had such situations put the bullets in the barrel? Thank you

No need for a solid if you are using a good quality soft/expanding bullet such as a swift a-frame, rhino, tsx or peregrine.
The only time a client "needs" a solid is on elephant and hippo on land in the thickets

 

[Frederik]

Daga boy is approaching me at high speed.
I raise the carbine and shoot.
One bullet after another.
This is a situation I have thought about many times. I wonder if it is better that in say 416 rigby the first bullet is solid and the second soft? In which order do you who have had such situations put the bullets in the barrel? Thank you

Qualilty bonded expanding bullet is all you need.
From your scenario a expanding soft would be the best you need as much damage as possible with the most energy dump in the same moment.
You don't need the penetration that you would for a charging elephant on a charging buffalo but would like to inflict as much damage and energy dump as possible. Hitting that switch on a moving target is not that easy getting close with an expanding bullet is much better than getting close to the brain with a solid.

 

[mark-hunter]

On my buffalo, I found three soft points, premiums, swift a frames, 375 HH, 300 grains, under skin, opposite side.
So perfect penetration through vitals, no exit wound.

 

[Miletic]

On my buffalo, I found three soft points, premiums, swift a frames, 375 HH, 300 grains, under skin, opposite side.
So perfect penetration through vitals, no exit wound.

I now that.
So,total penetration is very hard with eny open bullet

 

[uplander01]

I think a good compromise would be the north fork cup point solid….knowone seems to talk about that option for buffalo, and I think that’s what it was designed for. You do get more frontal diameter but it keeps its sectional density. I used some on a buff with 375 hh 350 gr, it definitely hit it hard, penetrated all the way to opposite side under hide

 

[Philip Glass]

Daga boy is approaching me at high speed.
I raise the carbine and shoot.
One bullet after another.
This is a situation I have thought about many times. I wonder if it is better that in say 416 rigby the first bullet is solid and the second soft? In which order do you who have had such situations put the bullets in the barrel? Thank you

TSX for buff and there is no conversation that includes the word solid.

 

[IvW]

I myself think that first I shoot a hard bullet in the head ...... while the daga boy is standing.....

This is a very concerning statement......I dont think you are thinking.....

 

[Miletic]

This is a very concerning statement......I dont think you are thinking.....

Ok. I withdraw. I'm going to hunt small rabbits with a shotgun

 

[IvW]

Ok. I withdraw. I'm going to hunt small rabbits with a shotgun

Much safer than trying to shoot cape buffalo in the head with your first shot......